AMERICAN PREFACE.
XXIX
least desirablc, which it is not, to give to the early traimng of
euch one a specific clirection, it eould not be accomplished in any
rational, satisfactory manner ; for no man lias sufflcient prescience
to forecast tlie future of any child, to teil just kow Ins natural
powers will develop, just wliat will be the great Controlling cir-
cumstances and requirements of his manhood. All early public
education should aim, 1, at the greatest good of the greatest num-
ber; and, 2, at the discovery, though not at the special tram-
ing,’ of special capacities. To such populär training of skill and
taste as indicated two objections will be made: 1, tliat it will
give more educated labor tlian is required ; 2, tliat it will produce
a distaste for manual labor. As to the validity of the first objec-
tion we can best judge after we have once fairly made the trial.
For the present it is perfectly safe to assume tliat there is enough
stupidity inherent in human nature, whieh cannot possibly be
overcome by any amount of education, to supply all the ignorant
labor wliicli may be required in rüde employments. As to the
validity of the second objection, the trutk of the matter is, tliat
such an education will cause the workman who has natural capacitj
enough to acquire it, to take greater pride and delight in his
work. 1 This thing alone is quite sufflcient to justify much cffort
to secure it; so tliink foreign governments. 2
European Seid, “Botli (econoniieal and icsthetic reasons) dem and, witli a
voice that sliould be lieard and beeded, tlie prompt adoption of measures for
providing instructiou in tlie elementary principles of drawing and modelling
in all our public schools, and in the industrial applications of art in all our
schools of applied Science.”
1 Louis J. Hinton, who attended the Yienna Exhibition, 1873, says, in Ins
special report to the State of Massachusetts on “ Museums of Art and Indus-
ny" “ One fact is proven, Standing firm as a rock, by the united testimofiy
of all the European savants who Claim to speak with authority on this suh
let-. — tliat is, tliat, if any improvement is to take place in the art-industry of
the country, it must come from the hetter edueation of the people in art, and
this must eommence with populär instruction in freehand drawing. It is also
shown that such knowledge as is imhibed at the drawing school, the technical
edncational dass, art-gallery, and the art-industry iiiuseum, edueates inen to
feel more interest in tlieir work ; that new liiethods of doing old-time work
suggest themselves to the man who has beeu tauglit in the principles upon
which the success of his work depeuds.”
2 The following extract from a circular dated June 7, 1870, and addressed
to her Majesty’s diplomatic and consular agents in all parts of the world,
